UW-River Falls Accounting Academic Plan

English . . .

During my freshman year as an English major at
UW-RF, James Dickey, later to become famous for his novel Deliverance, chanted his powerful Southern poems from the stage at North Hall and even played a little blues on the guitar. Coming from a small mill town in northern Wisconsin, I'd never seen or heard a real poet before, and I was amazed.

Among those visiting campus when I was a student were Gary Snyder, William Stafford, Galway Kinnell, and Robert Bly. The intimate setting always provided us with opportunities to meet and engage in fruitful dialogue with such literary masters . . . I'll always be deeply grateful to UW-RF for this priceless component of a poet's education.

~Thomas R. Smith,
author of Keeping the Star and
Horse of the Earth.

Department of English
245 Kleinpell Fine Arts Building
(715) 425-3537

Undergraduate Catalog

Goals and Objectives

• to develop students who are insightful readers and thinkers, good writers who can search for answers to knotty problems because of the research skills they have developed, able users of word-processing and publishing technology, and life-long learners who are aware of the historical, cultural, and philosophical issues of their own and other times. An education in literature, composition, criticism and language teaches an English major to write effectively, to think critically, to read widely, to weigh values and to communicate ideas.

Program and/or Curriculum

The English department curriculum blends literature, composition, criticism, writing and language courses into three programs: the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Science degree programs leading to a liberal arts degree, and the Bachelor of Science degree in English Education. The latter has been identified as a model program by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. In addition to the traditional liberal arts minor, a student may also minor in the professional writing program, which provides preparation for creative or business writing, or the certifiable language arts/reading minor.

Faculty

The English department faculty are committed to undergraduate education, with six having been awarded the distinguished teacher award. In addition, many engage in scholarly and other creative activities which enhance their teaching. Among the faculty are two Fulbright Scholars, four National Endowment for the Humanities grant recipients, and authors of books and numerous articles. The faculty stay abreast of current developments within their specialties by participating in local, national and international conferences, and 97 percent have been awarded Ph.D. degrees.

Career Opportunities

English majors develop abilities that are sought in academic, business, and other professional fields. English Education majors have a 92 percent placement record within the first three years of their graduation, and many are discovering opportunities for teaching English as a second language both in the United States and abroad. Liberal arts majors have found positions in business, advertising, project anagement, public relations, law, politics, foreign service, arts administration, and publishing. Liberal arts majors also find that the English major is beneficial as a pre-professional degree, suitable for graduate studies in law, public administration, and the communications industry.

Bachelor of Science Degree. English. Academic Advising Plan.

Semester 1 (Fall)

ENGL 111 Academic Reading and Writing ~ 3
SCTA 105 Introduction to Theatre and Drama ~ 3
P ED 108 Health and Fitness for Life ~ 1
Physical education activity courses ~ 1
Course in minor ~ 3
General education courses ~ 6
Total semester credits ~ 17

Semester 5 (Fall)

ENGL 324 Survey of American Literature ~ 3
ENGL 331 Survey of English Literature ~ 3
ENGL 335 Shakespeare ~ 3
ENGL 361 Composition Theory ~ 3
PSYC 330 The Exceptional Child ~ 3
Course in minor ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 18

Semester 2 (Spring)

ENGL 112 Persuasive Reading and Writing ~ 3
TED 120 Introduction to Education and
Instructional Technology ~ 3
General education courses (with lab) ~ 9
Total semester credits ~ 15

Semester 6 (Spring)

ENGL 321 English Language History and Culture ~ 3
ENGL 332 Survey of English Literature ~ 3
ENGL 355 Literature for Adolescents ~ 3
ENGL 441 20th Century International Literature. 3
Teacher education techniques course in minor ~ 3
Course in minor ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 18

Semester 3 (Fall)

ENGL 243 Types of Literature ~ 3
ENGL 251 Advanced Composition ~ 3
ENGL 252 Multicultural Education:
Language, Media Philosophy ~ 3
TED 212 Educational Psychology ~ 5
Course in minor ~ 3
General education course ~ 3
Create videotape and apply for admission to
teacher education program
Total semester credits ~ 20

Semester 7 (Fall)

ENGL 325 Survey of American Literature ~ 3
TED 420 School and Society ~ 3
TED 422 Content Area Literacy ~ 3
TED 432 Techniques of Middle/Sec Ed English 3
Interdisciplinary Capstone course ~ 2
English period course ~ 3
Total semester credits ~ 20

Apply for admission to student teaching

Semester 4 (Spring)

ENGL 253 Introduction to Literary Studies ~ 3
ENGL 320 Structure of English ~ 3
General education English diversity course ~ 3
Courses in minor ~ 9
Total semester credits ~ 18

Semester 8 (Spring)

TED 474 Student Teaching ~ 12
Total semester credits ~ 12

Summary of English Degree Requirements

General Education ~ 41-43 cr.
Core ~ cr.
Required Supporting Courses ~ cr.
Directed Electives ~ cr.
Credits to Degree ~ 120 cr.

PDF version

Updated January 2004